The Greek island of Rhodes has been a popular beach resort since the beginning of the 20th century. A sufficient number of first-class hotels, equipped beaches and comfortable infrastructure have always attracted large flows of tourists. Today, Rhodes proudly holds the distinction of being one of the most visited Mediterranean islands.
However, Rhodes has more to offer than just a beach holiday. Its history goes back thousands of years. Monuments of Antiquity and the Middle Ages from the Ottoman Empire and Italian rule are perfectly preserved here. Scattered among the picturesque valleys of the island are charming Greek towns, as if frozen in time under the gentle Mediterranean sun. In colorful taverns you can fully enjoy local cuisine, for which the best and only fresh products are used.
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What to see on the island of Rhodes?
The most interesting and beautiful places for walks. Photos and brief description.
The Rhodes Fortress was built in the 13th century by the Knights of the monastic Order of St. John, better known as the Hospitaller Order. The walls of the structure grew on the site of the ancient acropolis. In the 15th century, the castle was considered one of the most impregnable fortresses in the Christian world. The ring of stone walls was more than 4 km long. Inside is the Palace of the Grand Masters, built on the site of the Temple of Helios. Only the walls of this castle have survived to the days.
Inside the walls of the Rhodes Fortress lie the medieval quarters of Rhodes, built during the reign of the Order of St. John on the foundations of buildings from the Ancient era. There are 10 gates leading to the territory of the old city, located along the perimeter of the fortress wall. The streets of the medieval city are paved with cobblestones; the powerful walls of the surviving buildings once housed knights, a hospital and administrative offices.
The Street of Knights is located on the territory of the Medieval City of Rhodes. It begins at the gates of the Palace of the Grand Masters. Mainly on this street are the houses of the “tongues” - national groups of knights who arrived in Rhodes from different countries. For example, there once was the House of the French Knights and the House of Spain. In the Middle Ages, the Order's stables were also located on the Street of Knights.
Lindos is one of the most ancient cities of the island, it was founded in the 10th century BC. The local ancient Acropolis is second only to the Athenian Acropolis in importance. The local temple of Athena Lindia was once visited by Alexander the Great, and in the 1st century AD. e. The Apostle Paul visited here. All city buildings are painted white. The ancient houses are many hundreds of years old, but according to the law, new buildings cannot be erected in the city in order to preserve its historical appearance.
An ancient harbor that was the main port of Rhodes for 2.5 thousand years. At the entrance to the port there are two stone columns, on which in the 3rd century AD. e. a giant 36-meter statue of the Colossus of Rhodes rested (now there are figures of deer there). On the stone breakwater there are three medieval mills, preserved from knightly times, and the fortress of St. Nicholas.
In the past, the fort was part of the defensive system of Rhodes. It is located on the edge of a stone pier - a breakwater built in Antiquity. First, in the 15th century, the central tower of the fortress was erected, called the “Tower of the Mills”. A few years after the Turkish siege of 1480, the structure was surrounded by a moat and walled. Today, there is a lighthouse on the territory of Fort St. Nicholas.
The Acropolis of Lindos is one of the most significant architectural monuments in Greece. It is located on a cliff overlooking the sea. The first pagan temples appeared here in the 5th-4th centuries. BC. The main sanctuary of the Acropolis is a temple in honor of Athena Linda, who was considered the patroness of the island. Many buildings have survived quite well to this day, so tourists can see not only ruins.
The Acropolis is located on the hill of St. Stephen, where today the park of Monte Smith is located. It consists of a stadium, an amphitheater and the remains of the Temple of Pythian Apollo. According to excavation data, the first buildings appeared here in the 3rd-2nd centuries. BC e. In the era of Antiquity, sanctuaries of the gods, public institutions, and theaters were located on the territory of the Rhodes Acropolis. The main artifacts were discovered as a result of excavations from 1912 to 1945.
The stadium is located on the territory of the Rhodes Acropolis. It was built in the 2nd century BC. Sports competitions were held here dedicated to the sun god Helios, who, along with Athena, was considered the patron saint of the island. It should be noted that Rhodes athletes were among the strongest in ancient Greece. They constantly won prizes in competitions and earned numerous awards.
An ancient city in the north-west of the island, one of the most powerful policies of Rhodes, whose heyday was in the 5th century BC. Kamiros maintained economic ties with Asia Minor and the mainland Greek city-states, actively developed agriculture and minted his own coins. In the 3rd century AD. A devastating earthquake occurred in Rhodes, as a result of which the inhabitants left Kamiros, and the city fell into decay.
A hill on which one of the best viewing platforms in Rhodes is located. From here you can see the ancient city of Ialyssos and the resort of Ixia. Also on the top and slopes of Filerimos there are ruins of the ancient Greek temples of Athena and Zeus and picturesque Christian cathedrals of the 15th-18th centuries. In the 16th century, the monastery of the Mother of God was built on the mountain, where the miraculous icon created by the Apostle Luke was placed. At the entrance to the mountain there is an 18-meter concrete cross.
The exact date of construction of the monastery is unknown. Since the 15th century, the miraculous icon of the Virgin Mary has been kept here. It is believed that it helps childless couples conceive a child, so the flow of pilgrims to this place never dries up. Tsambika Monastery is divided into lower and upper. On the territory of the lower monastery there is a temple with an icon, an Orthodox museum, a cafe and a souvenir shop. The upper part of the monastery is located on top of a hill, offering magnificent views of the beaches of Tsambika.
The temple was built in the 13th century and is located in the center of the ancient city of Lindos. Over the following centuries, the church was reconstructed more than once; one of the large-scale restorations was carried out under Pierre de Aubusson, the Grand Master of the Order of St. John. The interior of the temple was renovated in the 20th century during the Italian rule in Rhodes. The church has a very picturesque snow-white facade, sharply contrasting with the bright red tiled roof.
Jews settled in Rhodes more than 2.3 thousand years ago, but the first synagogues began to appear already during the Middle Ages. Kahal Shalom is considered the oldest synagogue in Greece; it was built at the end of the 16th century and operated until the 30s. XX century, before the advent of the fascist dictatorship. The Jews were expelled from the island, and the synagogue was abandoned. These days, the synagogue has opened its doors again, but only during the high tourist season, when a sufficient number of tourists come to the island.
Saint Nektarios is a fairly revered figure in the Greek Orthodox Church despite the fact that he was canonized relatively recently. It is believed that it helps patients recover from illnesses. A small temple in his honor was built at the expense of pilgrims. The church was built in the classical Byzantine style. The facade of the building has an unusual terracotta shade and is decorated with graceful columns.
The temple is located in the center of the small village of Siana, which is 65 km away. from Rhodes, on the slope of Mount Akramitis. The temple was built in the 14th century from natural stone. Along the edges of the main façade there are two symmetrical clock towers; the roof of the building is covered with red tiles. The church interiors are luxurious, the ceiling is decorated with magnificent frescoes and decorated with gilding.
The museum collections display an extensive collection of artifacts found during excavations on the island. The age of many exhibits exceeds several thousand years. One of the most valuable items in the collection is a statue of Aphrodite of Rhodes, dating back to the 1st century BC. The sculpture is made of Parian marble. The museum also has statues of gods created in the 6th-5th centuries. BC.
A 15th-century castle built by the Knights of the Order of St. John. Like most similar structures of that time, Monolithos was erected for defensive purposes. The structure lived up to its purpose - in the entire history of its existence, the castle has never been taken by storm. Now the building is in a very neglected state, as over time it has suffered serious damage.
A defensive structure of the 16th century, erected during the reign of the Hospitallers. The castle was built in the Venetian style. Thanks to its convenient location, the walls offer a panoramic and very convenient view, which made it possible to observe the enemy’s maneuvers. After the siege of 1480, the castle was badly damaged. The knights of the order decided to start restoring it later, but as a result of the defeat in the fight for Rhodes, these plans were not destined to be realized.
The park is located a few kilometers from the center of Rhodes. It is considered the oldest landscape park in the world and one of the main attractions of the island. It is not known exactly when Rodini was founded, but during the Roman Empire the park was already a popular place for walking and relaxing. Parts of Roman aqueducts have been preserved on its territory, centuries-old cypress and pine trees grow here, and there are also small lakes.
Thermal springs located in Kallithea, a resort village located near the city of Rhodes. The bathing complex was built in 1928 as part of the development of tourism infrastructure on the island. The building of the baths was built according to the design of P. Lombardi; in our time it is considered a valuable architectural monument. The baths operated until 1967, after which they were closed for 40 years. The re-opening took place in 2007.
A natural attraction near the village of Kolymbia, located on the way from Rhodes to Lindos. Seven Springs is a network of small streams and springs that flow directly from the rock and form a lake with the purest drinking water. The area itself is quite picturesque, as it is located among a relict forest overgrown with pines, cypresses and plane trees. To get to the lake you need to go through a small tunnel.
A protected area located approximately 27 km. from the city of Rhodes. In this area, lush green vegetation grows, waterfalls flow, and numerous streams merge into small lakes. Even in the hottest weather, you can find long-awaited coolness here. In summer, thousands of colorful butterflies fly into the valley, causing the entire landscape to be covered with a bright, colorful carpet. The place is considered unique not only in Greece, but throughout Europe.
The farm is home to more than 120 ostriches, as well as deer, camels, birds, donkeys and goats. For the entertainment of visitors, rides on huge birds are organized. As in all similar places, there is a store at the farm where customers are offered products from various parts of the ostrich. A local restaurant serves this bird meat and an omelette made from huge eggs for lunch. The farm is located near the village of Petaloudes.
A picturesque piece of coastline with golden sand and the clearest azure sea. The beach is located near the village of Kharaki. Agati is popular among tourists with children due to its fairly gentle descent into the sea. The beach has a developed tourist infrastructure with taverns, sun lounger rentals and other services. “Agiya Agati” translated means “holy purity.”
The beach is located at the foot of Mount Tsambika, the surrounding area of which is considered the most beautiful places in Rhodes. The beach has a fairly long strip of sand and is characterized by increased cleanliness and transparency of the sea. Tourists can enjoy numerous cafes, sports centers and entertainment. A fairly popular way to spend time is riding ATVs in the vicinity of the beach.
The cape is located in the southernmost part of the island, it is connected to Rhodes by a narrow sandy isthmus. In winter, the waters of the Aegean and Mediterranean Seas flood this passage, and in summer they recede, forming a magnificent sand spit, which is used as a beach. Cape Prasonisi is a popular destination for kitesurfers and windsurfers.
The bay of Agios Pavlos is located near the ancient Acropolis of Lindos. It is believed that in the 1st century AD. The Apostle Paul landed here. There is a beautiful sand and pebble beach equipped with all the necessary infrastructure. Natural ledges of the surrounding rocks serve as springboards for jumping into the water. In honor of St. Paul, a small snow-white church was erected on the territory of the bay.
The bay is included in the list of the most picturesque places in Rhodes. It is named after the actor E. Quinn, who was popular in the first half of the 20th century. In the 60s the actor purchased a plot of land and settled on the territory of the bay. According to another version, it is believed that the authorities of Rhodes were so pleased with the presence of the star that they granted him land for indefinite use in exchange for the creation of a cinema center on the island. But Quinn never did anything and was forced to leave.
A popular amusement park located on the territory of the resort city of the same name. The water park has areas for children of all ages, so safety is ensured even for the youngest visitors. Near the complex there is a beach, many shops, restaurants, and souvenir shops. During the high season, there is always a large influx of tourists at the water park, which is why queues form at the slides.
I am publishing a story about our independent journey :)
Route.
This time Rhodes, namely Faliraki, was chosen as a holiday destination again. We bought tickets ourselves; we couldn’t find cheap ones. These can be found when flying through Helsinki. Our flight was from Moscow (Domodedovo), a charter flight, which, as usual, was delayed by 2.5 hours.
There are two ways to get from Rhodes Airport to Faliraki: by bus through Rhodes with a transfer, or by taxi. We chose the second method, the price for a taxi is fixed, 26 euros to Faliraki, we got back for 28. We returned home through Sheremetyevo without delays. We traveled from Moscow to St. Petersburg on a new double-decker train, the fare per compartment was a little more than 2000, I highly recommend taking a ride on it :)
Hotel.
We booked the hotel on the website booking.com, based on reviews and the general rating of tourists, we were interested in a simple room with a kitchen. For financial reasons, we chose a hotel without a pool. And at times we missed it, the sea was cool and we were able to swim a couple of times. There was a bar with a swimming pool next to the hotel, where you could sunbathe and swim for free if you bought a drink. On the booking page, the photos do not always correspond to the descriptions of the rooms; not all photos have mini-kitchens, so if in doubt, you can go to the hotel’s website and try to contact them by email. But we did without it. Immediately after booking, I received an email from the hotel owner Nikos with greetings and warm words. The hotel is called Tasos Apartments, no prepayment is required, you pay for your stay in cash upon arrival.
Overall I'm very pleased with the hotel, it's cozy. There was a welcome compliment in the form of a bottle of red wine (not bad), fruit, a couple of cups of coffee and cream and a couple of pieces of cake. The room has everything you need, air conditioning and free wi-fi, hairdryer, TV, large balcony with table and chairs, clothesline for drying clothes. Every morning from 9 to 13, a nice woman does the cleaning, changes the towels, and even washes the dishes for you after breakfast. She will clean only if there is no one in the room, she will put complete order on the bedside table and in the room as a whole, and neatly fold your pajamas and clothes in the room.
The kitchen has everything you need for cooking and storing food. A couple of tips from my own experience:
1. Take 1 or 2 containers with you to put the prepared food there and free up the pot and frying pan; the pan will fit in the refrigerator, but it will take up a lot of space and you can only heat food in a frying pan.
2. We also found transparent food bags useful, I’m not sure if the local supermarket has them.
3. Take a sharpened knife for meat and vegetables with you in your suitcase; in hotels they are dull and small.
4. A couple of bars of soap will come in handy: one for vegetables in the kitchen and one for washing clothes.
Salt, sugar, spices - everything needs to be bought, oil is a must, even with it, food often burned in the existing frying pan. Upon arrival we were given a bottle of detergent and a sponge. There is a wine corkscrew. There are no paper napkins.
The bathroom has a shower with a curtain, but no matter how hard you try, water still gets on the floor, and if this is a problem for you, you can buy a cloth for the floor. There is a rug on the floor, but it is only enough to stand on with your feet after a shower. There is one large and one small towel for each guest. A small jar of shampoo and gel. Everything is clean and tidy. Advice from personal experience: in order not to pick up a possible fungus (low-price hotel), we wiped the shower tray with specially brought technical alcohol (small bottle), because Soap does not kill fungus.
The beds in the room were put together, there is a gap between them, which we neutralized with a warm blanket. The extension cord brought from home was very useful, because... The socket above the bed did not work.
There are enough hangers in the closet, there is plenty of space for things.
Nikos is very hospitable and is always ready to help you solve any problem. He is about 60 years old and is a very positive person. There is a bar near the reception where you can sit and chat in the evening.
Sea and beach.
The sea in Rhodes in May is cool; we were in the Mediterranean. The first week it was uncomfortable to swim, and in the second week we only swam in calm weather. Therefore, if you want to swim to your heart’s content, come no earlier than June, but better in September, when there are fewer tourists and the water is warmer. Although the local children swam with pleasure. The beach in Faliraki is perhaps the best in Rhodes, sandy, clean water, no stones. There were few people on the beach due to the beginning of the season and in general there were fewer tourists than in summer. 
In the first couple of days it was relatively cool in the afternoon and evening, then it warmed up, it was hot during the day, good in the evening. 
I recommend taking a non-woolen blouse or thick jacket with you for the evening if you go in May, it’s cool in the evening by the sea. There are only four beaches: Faliraki A, B, Katafigou beach and Katara beach. At the end of Katara beach there are nice large pebbles on which you can take pictures, but swimming there is problematic - the bottom is slippery due to clay. There is a nudist beach, but we didn't go to it. 
From our hotel to the sea is 10 minutes walk.
Interesting places.
This is our second time in Rhodes, and we have already seen almost all the main attractions (Monolithos, Prasonissi, Kamiros, Epta Piges, Lindos). On this trip we did not visit many places, namely: Rhodes, Anthony Queen and Ladiko bays, Symi island. Let's start with Faliraki.
In Faliraki itself, it is interesting to see the view from the observation deck, which can be reached after Katara Beach along local paths. From there you have a beautiful view of the entire town and you can sit there in the evening with a bottle of wine together. 
And so Faliraki is a small town with many cafes, shops and nightclubs. 
The only interesting places are the boat station with a small Catholic church and the beach. From there, boats depart to Rhodes and Lindos, as well as excursions to the above bays. 
The Church of St. Nektarius is on the highway, it is very beautiful. 
There are a lot of cats, at the boat station there is a place where they are specially fed :) 
Travel to Rhodes from Faliraki costs 2 euros 20 cents, the bus takes you to the final stop at the ticket office, where you can see the departure schedule back. There are also a large number of buses from Rhodes to almost all the main settlements of the island, and excursions also depart from there.
Rhodes is an interesting place, from personal experience I advise you not to combine long trips to its shops with a walk around the city in one day, it is very tiring. I will write about the stores below in a separate section. This time we went deeper from the main tourist spots and found a lot of interesting courtyards and streets. One of them was played by a guitar in a local cafe. It's hard to get lost there, everything is nearby. The city is beautiful and interesting. One of its features is the parrots in one of the central squares, which can even climb onto your hand, even if you are sitting in a local cafe and don’t expect anything like that. In general, Rhodes is worth visiting more than once. 
Anthony Queen and Ladiko bays are a 40-minute walk from Faliraki if you follow the highway. The path is not close, but it's worth it. First, Ladiko Bay will open to your eyes - a nice wide bay with a sand and pebble beach. 
Anthony Queen is just above it, a 10 minute walk. This is a very beautiful place, a small cozy bay with a pebble beach and dark turquoise water. 
As for the sunbeds in this bay, after 17 they are free. I highly recommend that you take a walk along the path that leads to the parking lot from the bay: there is an excellent view from there. 
As for the island of Symi, I can say from myself that this is so far the coolest and most interesting place I have ever been. But first things first. We purchased an excursion to Symi in the middle of Katafigou beach from a very friendly local Greek, Michael, for 25 euros per person. In principle, you can purchase many different excursions from him (to Marmaris for 47 euros, to Nisyros island with a semi-active volcano for 56 euros, to the above bays, etc.), or you can order an individual private water tour to the places where you want visit (he offered us such an excursion to Lindos for 29 euros, only 4 euros more expensive than the usual one and several hours longer). 
The excursion consisted of two parts: a visit to the central city of Symi and the Panormitis monastery.
The next day, at 8 am, a bus picked us up from the hotel and took us to Rhodes and took the ferry there. 
We sailed on it for about 2 hours, we occupied the lower closed deck, but in principle it was also not bad on the upper ones. The only thing was that there was a slight rocking motion, but you couldn’t feel it below. 
About 5 minutes before arriving in the central city of Symi, I advise you to take a place for photo and video shooting on the bow of the ferry - the view is stunning. 
We only had 3 hours in Symi, during which we barely had time to walk around its embankment and walk a little around the streets inside the city. I categorically do not advise you to join excursions - they were taken almost all the time to souvenir shops. It’s better to go around the city yourself, you will see much more. 
My favorite place in the city was one place, right behind the La Vaporetto cafe: a staircase leading to the sea, where my husband and I sat, dangling our feet in the water. 
And then we decided to move to the cafe itself. There, when you first appear, the cafe staff throws bread into the water for the fish so you can watch them share it. And the fish there are quite large and there are a lot of them, so it’s worth a look. 
Three hours later we went to the monastery and 50 minutes later we were there. 
The monastery is nice, you can go light a candle inside, you decide the price for the candles yourself. In addition to them, you will be given an icon and lamp oil. 
But our fun didn't end there. On the lower deck on the way back, the toastmaster of the ferry sang songs with all the willing spectators from the audience, in the languages of different countries. It was very fun and exciting. 
We arrived in Rhodes at 19 pm and then could transfer to a bus that would take us to the hotel. But we didn’t do that and decided to just walk around the old city and took a public bus home.
Shops and souvenirs.
Near our hotel there are only small grocery stores, we took water there in large cans (we poured it into a bottle at home, much cheaper) and potatoes so as not to carry it from afar, the choice of vegetables is small and the quality is not very special in the evening. There is a relatively large supermarket a 25-minute walk on the highway towards Rhodes, after the Church of St. Nektarius. 
I recommend shopping there, good selection and quality of products, a lot of household items and mass market level cosmetics. Chicken is sold there only whole, from meat - pork in pieces for steaks or expensive pieces in packaging. There is a lot of fish; we didn’t find another place where they sell it. Before buying, be sure to ask the seller if you have chosen the fish - the names are in Greek, you may take squid by mistake. There is octopus and shrimp, but you need a good frying pan to cook them in your room.
In this store I bought myself Athenas treasures body lotion, it’s simple, it has many scents to choose from, there’s one with aloe without fragrance, in stores it’s 5 euros more expensive. Buying sunscreen there is very expensive - it costs from 12 euros, so stock up on it in advance.
By the way, cards are accepted in all stores, regardless of size; we only paid in cash in taxis.
On the other side of the highway opposite the church, a little further in, there is a butcher shop, there is a large selection, the meat, chicken, and minced meat are good, we bought enough for the entire vacation - the freezer allowed. All product prices are listed at the end of the story.
If necessary, you can find all the spices in Faliraki; they are sold in large quantities and the selection is interesting. But don’t rush to bring spice mixtures from there - they are quite expensive for tourists, but you can make them yourself at home. Similarly, you can buy a large canister of olive oil and add various additives to it at home; such a thing is also sold there, only in small bottles.
Faliraki has one main street with souvenir and clothing shops, clubs that become active at night. There are a couple of tattoo parlors and parlors for peeling legs with small fish.
Regarding prices: souvenirs in Rhodes are 1.5-2 euros cheaper and there is more choice. It is also better to buy silver jewelry in Rhodes, immediately on the way from the final bus stop to the old town (not in the old town itself). The rings there are definitely 2 times cheaper, they are very beautiful and suitable in case you are not sure of the size (they open up).
In Faliraki we liked an unusual magnet in the form of a bottle with sand and shells and a figurine on the neck, 3.5 euros. Regular magnets from 1.5 euros. In Rhodes you can definitely buy magnets with a piece of olive soap for 5 euros for 2 pieces Cheap interesting magnets can be bought in Symi, they are there for 1.5 euros per piece. Postcards are mostly anywhere from 25 cents. The rest is all pretty standard, but nice. Also, as gifts, we bought cloth napkins in Faliraki, from 3.5 euros, a ceramic figurine of a boat for 5 euros, and a mug with Greece for 3.5 euros.
Alcohol on the main street of Faliraki is more expensive, buy it in stores, when choosing Metaxa, choose a glass bottle, 5 stars is preferable to 3., from 4 euros. Local vodka (ouzo) can be bought as a gift in the supermarket, from 5 euros in gift wrapping.
The prices for clothes are the same as ours. Large selection of hats, cost from 8 euros
As a gift, you can buy a painting in Rhodes, they are wonderful here (15 euros is the optimal size, there are larger and smaller ones), you can take them with you in your hand luggage. A beautiful scarf or stole can be purchased from 8 euros; in Rhodes for 25 euros you can buy 3 thick scarves. There is a very large selection of leather bags, there are nice backpacks, you can buy ones made of artificial leather for 25 euros. Prices for bags and backpacks are not fixed, you can try to bargain.
In Faliraki, at the end of the main street there is a Kolos bar, immediately after this bar there is a nice little shop where you can find unusual non-tourist gifts. There I bought myself a very nice bracelet for 4 euros, which matches the color of the local turquoise rings and looks decent for jewelry. Lovers of turquoise shades and similar ones - this is the place for you
In Greece, we discovered mini-racquets with a rubber ball, you can play them on the beach and in nature in St. Petersburg, from 3.5 euros.
As for cosmetics, there is a lot of it in Rhodes and the prices vary. I advise you to buy the one used by local cosmetologists; the price for a day cream is on average 30 euros.
Cafes and restaurants.
I highly recommend you visit two cafes in Faliraki: Kavos, it is located in front of the boat station, at the beginning of Katara beach, and Dimitra, it is located in the middle of Katafigou beach.
We tried several dishes in Kavos. 
I really liked the grilled octopus (9 euros), 
I didn’t like the kleftika (8.5 euros), but it’s not for everyone (baked lamb in cabbage with tomatoes). 
There were delicious pork chops with mushroom sauce (12 euros) and mussels with lemon juice (10 euros for half a kilo).
There is more choice in Dimitra. 
Our first time there we ordered a seafood platter (15 euros), one large plate for two for the whole evening, which included smelt, mussels, squid and breaded anchovies and grilled king prawns. I ordered tzatziki sauce (2.5 euros), in which we safely dipped it all. The second time we ordered shrimp in saganaki cheese (8.5 euros) and grilled octopus (9.5 euros). But I liked him better in Kavos. And the third time we took the grilled meat platter (18 euros), which is a huge plate with pork, beef, chicken, lamb, sausage and cutlet. Very tasty and great service :)
I am publishing a photo of the menu of one of the Greek cafes. 
All the photos from Rhodes can be seen in my open album, there are about 500 of them, they are large, so I can’t upload them here, at the end of the album there are prices for souvenirs and cafes,
The fourth largest island in Greece attracts tourists all year round. Rhodes is a combination of ancient history, myths and legends with modern luxury holidays. It is washed by the Mediterranean and Aegean Seas, has a coastline of 250 kilometers, and the island’s area is 1,401,459 square meters. km. During the summer months, the number of tourists can exceed the local population, because the island has unique attractions that can be seen in a few days if you explore Rhodes by car.
Complete information about your trip to Rhodes
If a tourist is interested in the question of what to see in Rhodes on their own by car, then first of all you need to find out the main attractions.
- Capital of the island. The old town is included in the UNESCO list, and the Rhodes Fortress is the longest in Europe - 4 km.
- Ancient Kamiros. There was once a thriving city here, founded in the 9th century BC, but now there are only ruins on the site.
- Tsambika. The sacred mountain, on the top of which the monastery is located, to get there you need to overcome 307 steps.
- Valley of Butterflies. In summer, bear butterflies fly here and occupy all the trees and stones.
- Lindos. A snow-white small city that conveys the flavor of all of Greece, it was built in the 6th century BC.
These are not all the attractions, so the question of where to go by car in Rhodes should not arise.
The distances between objects are quite large, and public transport does not go everywhere, so a car is the best way to see everything.
Trip plan with map
It is advisable for a tourist to stay on the island for at least a week, during which time he can easily see all the beauty, taste delicious food and sunbathe on the beaches.
Map with attractions
Note! It is better to start your trip from the capital of the island - Rhodes, from where the route network of the entire island begins.
Rhodes - routes by car can be like this:
- Kallithea - Kallithea Baths - Seven Springs - Tsampiko Monastery with the Panorama Tavern - Haraki village with swimming on the beach - Lindos - Kallithea.
- Kallithea - monastery of St. Ponteleimon - Prasonisi beach.
- Kallithea - the village of Fanes - Valley of the Butterflies (coordinates for navigator - ostrich farm - monastery of St. Nektarios - Anthony Queen beach - Mount Filerimus - city of Rhodes - Kallithea).
Any route can be modified; when traveling around Rhodes by car, you need to take a trip plan with a map. The south of the island is not as popular as the North, there are fewer tourists there, especially on the beaches, and prices for services can sometimes also be lower. But in a day you can see several objects in the north and go explore the southern coast of Rhodes; you can get there in a few hours.
Note! You can only rent a car in Greece if you are 21 years old and you must have a passport and a driver's license.
If tourists are interested in beaches, then they should definitely visit the best places on the island:
- Anthony Quinn. It is located near the village of Faliraki, you can find it by following the signs. There are no waves, the beach is clean sand, you can take an umbrella or sun lounger for an additional fee.
- Haraki. On the east coast of the island there is a small village with clean beaches. In summer there are a lot of people here, so it’s better to come early in the morning.
- Prasonisi. One of the largest beaches on the island, people often come here by car and set up camping.
- Ghenadi. This place is not so popular among tourists, although the water here is clean and there is plenty of space for sun loungers.
In summer the sea warms up to +30 Celsius, and the tourist season itself lasts from May to October. If the sea is not of interest to the traveler, then you can visit the island even in winter; besides, prices for housing and other services drop significantly. And the temperature even in February can reach +15, precipitation falls in late autumn and winter, but the sun shines 300 days a year.
Anthony Queen Beach
When it becomes clear what to see on your own by car in Rhodes, you will also need to study the road network, the possibility of renting a car and the availability of gas stations.
You can rent a car:
- From the tour operator.
- In an Aeroport.
- At Rodos cars points.
It is better to find out about delivery points and costs from the service provider, because prices are constantly changing.
You can refuel your car at gas stations; they are small stores where they sell gasoline, but sometimes such stores do not have any signs, so it is not always clear where the gas station is.
Note! There is a main road with 2 lanes along the perimeter of the island; gas stations are located on it; in the depths of the island there are practically none, so you will need to return to this road.
Police are rare on the island, and traffic rules are controlled by road signs and rare traffic lights. Care must be taken, especially when traveling in the mountains.
There are also few parking lots on the island; if you go to the beach, you can stop right there; in the city center they are already occupied by locals.
A tourist can move around every day and stop in new places. There are no problems with accommodation on the island; in every tourist town you can find accommodation, but if there are plans and routes, then you need to book places in advance, especially for the tourist season.
What should a tourist visiting the island know?
You can find budget accommodation options, but you need to book them six months before your trip. There are often inexpensive hotels and hotels that offer breakfast or even dinner; many have access to the beaches, an equipped beauty salon and a swimming pool.
What is attractive about traveling by car compared to other methods?
Driving around Rhodes by car is much more convenient than using public transport, especially if it is a family vacation and there is a child in the company.
Important! If you are traveling with a child, then the car must have a child seat; it can be rented along with the car.
Panorama of Rhodes
Local transport services
Public transport on the island operates on schedule, but often in the evening it is impossible to go anywhere. The only solution for tourists without a car is to go on an excursion. There are excursions on motor ships here, and there is a ferry service between the cities. But sightseeing buses are not common everywhere, so it’s easier for tourists to go somewhere on their own.
Note! Renting transport on the island is not at all difficult, you just need to find a company that provides such services, and there are many of them on the island.
You need to be careful on the road, as the Greeks themselves can exceed the speed limit and violate traffic rules. The tracks themselves are in good condition, but there are often serpentine roads, so you need to slow down and be careful when turning.
You can cross the entire island from North to South in 1…2 hours, but it is better to spend several days on the trip, because there are many attractions in Rhodes. With your own transport, you can easily move from city to city and spend the night in a new place every night. Traveling by car will give you the opportunity to see all the beauties of the island while spending a little money.
The island of Rhodes is one of the most beautiful Greek islands with a rich history. We visited it in August 2007. To explore the island as much as possible, we rented a car. We lived in a hotel built by Arestotle Onassis - Miramare wonderland. The hotel consists of Greek-style houses scattered throughout the territory. Someday we will return there.
Our route around the island of Rhodes
View on a larger map
Rhodes simply breathes history, but we also wanted to see nature, so we chose the following Natural attractions of the island of Rhodes:
- IN - ,
- D — ,
- E — ,
- G – Cape Prosonisi
Here two seas merge, there are a lot of young people, surfers and caravans In general, the nature in Rhodes was not very impressive, especially after Crete. But I really liked the ancient cities.
The most ancient cities of Rhodes were:
- (on map C),
- (on map F)
- and Yalis.
To diversify our holiday we visited the neighboring
From the history of the island of Rhodes
There were several cities in Rhodes in ancient times. All Greek city states were independent. However, in 408 BC. the three cities united and founded a new capital, the city of Rhodes. (on map A). After the unification, culture and economy flourished on the island. For example, the population of the city in the 3rd-2nd centuries BC. was about 80,000 inhabitants. So Rhodes was not a province at all.
Kallithea - the place where thermal springs were allegedly discovered by Hippocrates The Rhodians lived mainly through trade. The island's role in managing maritime trade was manifested in the creation of the Rhodes Maritime Law. These documents formulated the basic rules of maritime trade that are still in effect today.
The Rhodians even had their own colonies, including in Sicily and Egypt.
It was in the city of Rhodes that the famous port stood - one of the seven wonders of the world. Also here was the famous school of rhetoric, where many political figures of ancient Rome studied. Among them is Gaius Julius Caesar.
The island was also a cultural center. Famous Greek sculptors worked here. The Temple of Helios was decorated with the chariot of the god, the creation of the sculptor Lysippos. It is she who is now in the Babtistery.
The most famous sculpture from the island of Rhodes is Laocon and his sons. This composition by Agesander of Rhodes and his sons Polydorus and Athenodorus is in the Vatican. Unfortunately, it is only a marble copy of the second half of the 1st century BC. e.
After joining the Roman Empire, the star of Rhodes set. First, the Romans deprived the island of the right to trade, then simply plundered it. This was in 42 AD. Then Cassius took about three thousand works of art to Rome.
However, there are almost no buildings left from antiquity in the city of Rhodes. The city is a typical medieval city with a fortress wall, towers and other medieval attributes.
All this recalls the time when the island of Rhodes was the main base of the order. These knights ruled the island from 1309 to 1522. Until the Turks drove them out of here.
On the island, the knights built fortress walls, fortresses, churches and palaces. Since then, Rhodes has looked like a medieval city of the 14th century. Since then, it has undergone virtually no changes. Is that some churches were converted first into mosques, and then back. The double Rhodes fortress walls are very beautiful. Unfortunately, the Master's Palace was destroyed. But it was restored by the Italians while they owned the island during the reign of Mussolini.
Summary - what to do and see in Rhodes:
- There is everything that local peasants grew.
- Drink - cold iced coffee - Frappe.
- View - Rhodes city, Lindos.
- Nature - the valley of butterflies and Cape Prasonisi, where two seas merge.
- Excursion - Bodrum (Türkiye).
- Bring Greek olive oil.
In the last article, I already told you in general, but in this article we will talk about the most interesting sights of Rhodes.
I will show you cool places on the island, its incredibly beautiful bays, beaches, observation decks, preserved medieval towns, monuments of ancient civilization, and even places of power.
So, if you are going to spend your holidays in Greece, then this article about the sights of Rhodes with all the marks on the map is just for you :)
So, let's go!
The city of Rhodes, which bears the same name as the island, is also the capital, and was built by the Knights Hospitaller. The streets here are lined with cobblestones, old houses, palaces and churches, a fortress and gates have been preserved.
The Old Town itself is included in the World Cultural Heritage List. By the way, the Rhodes Fortress is the longest in Europe - 4 km, and to get to the city center you need to go through 11 fortress gates. On the lawns along the wall you can see cannonballs; they reached the fortress, made potholes, but did not pierce it through.
We really enjoyed walking around the Old Town, it is somehow completely atypical for old Europe, more reminiscent of an eastern town, with winding labyrinths of streets. We have not been to Turkey, but they say it is very similar to a Turkish town with arrows of minarets and Turkish houses with traditional balconies.
The Mosque of Suleiman the Magnificent is one of the few buildings from the Turkish period that has survived to this day.
And the most photographed objects in the town are the Street of Knights
and the Palace of the Grand Masters.
Just outside the gates of the Old Town is also the pleasant port of Mandraki,
with the Italian Church of the Annunciation, with very beautiful interiors, atypical for Greek churches.
We lived only 5 km from the town, one day, during a morning jog along the sea, I just reached the port) Here, at the entrance to the harbor, there is an ancient lighthouse and 2 symbols of the city - the Rhodian deer and the doe, they stand on columns opposite each other friend, and a little further - medieval mills.
It’s worth coming to the town of Rhodes even just to watch the sunset or dine in one of the many restaurants,
and then, of course, stroll along its streets and watch the local residents.
Local residents have a tradition - every evening they place chairs next to the house and just sit, look at passers-by or gossip about something with their neighbors.
Ancient Kamiros
From the ancient town of Kamiros (9th century BC) only ruins of tiny houses, temples and a semblance of streets and squares remain; the palaces are only half restored.
If you have a wild imagination, then you can safely go to Ancient Kamiros to wander among the ruins, vividly imagining how the ancient Greeks once lived here.
Well, we found a couple of good marine species here, and for general acquaintance we also took a short walk among the ruins :) 
Mount Tsambika in Rhodes is sacred; at its top there is a monastery of the same name, to which a staircase of 307 steps leads. This is a pilgrimage path that especially believers overcome on their knees.
The church has its own legend - once upon a time, here on the top of a hill the Greeks discovered a miraculous icon of the Holy Mother of God, which belonged to the Church of Cyprus, and no matter how much they tried to return the icon to its place, it always returned here. As a result, a small church was built for the icon.
And the miracle of the icon is due to the fact that even childless couples trying in vain to have a child, visiting this place, were sure to receive a long-awaited gift. Now this miraculous icon is kept in the monastery at the foot, but the ritual of climbing the hill and lighting a candle has still been preserved.
Well, from the top of the hill there is a stunning view of the bay and the long sandy beach of Tsambika.
Petaloudes Valley or Butterfly Valley
The Valley of the Butterflies is a pleasant park in a narrow gorge, with numerous paths, bridges, and moss-covered steps, which are especially good to walk on in the sultry heat, hiding under the shade of storax trees.
In the summer there is a unique opportunity to see in one place tens of thousands of bear butterflies, which flock here every year to the smell of fragrant resin and hang in clusters on the stones
and trees.
I can’t say that butterflies are beauties, you won’t even notice them right away, they are masters of camouflage 🙂 and what is rather striking is their number, the very fact of such a huge accumulation in one place. There are several waterfalls and streams in the park, the breath is fresh, in general, you can safely spend half an hour, or even an hour, for a walk along the gorge!
Mount Filerimos
The path along the cypress alley with numerous bas-reliefs, along which you can climb to the highest point of the mountain, crowned with a huge 17-meter cross (which was also once climbable), was nicknamed “The Way of Calvary”, because the distance is equal to that of Jesus , carrying his cross.
The place reminded us of a mountain with a cross :)
Don’t repeat our mistake - if there is haze in the sky, then you should postpone your visit until the evening, especially since there should be a stunning view of the sunset from this mountain.
Well, on a clear day with good visibility, you can clearly see 2 Greek cities at once - the resort of Ixia and the ancient Ialyssos. We were there during the day, so, alas, we did not experience the delight of seeing the subtle outlines of the cities.
But as a bonus, we had a blast chasing peacocks, there are tons of them here, and yes, we were in the mating season, when they fluff their tails :)
And of course, lovers of ruins will appreciate the preserved ancient ruins of the ancient town of Ialisa, with the ruins of the temple of Zeus and Athena, as well as knightly castles with frescoes and the Church of the Virgin Mary.
Lindos
The stunning whitewashed ancient town of Lindos is considered quintessentially Greek,
and definitely a must visit!
It is difficult to see as many tourists as here in any other place in Rhodes; this is a very popular place among both travelers and locals.
This ancient town at the foot of the hill dates back to the 6th century BC. e.,
and has survived to this day,
It’s nice to stroll here as well as through the narrow colorful streets of the city,
and climb to the ancient Acropolis and the walls of the knight's castle, from where a stunning view of the heart-shaped lagoon with azure water opens - St. Paul's Bay.
This is perhaps the most beautiful bay on the island; according to legend, the Apostle Paul stopped here on his way to Jerusalem, which is why the bay is named after him. The small church in this bay is extremely popular for wedding ceremonies.
And you can climb the hill with the Acropolis either on foot or on donkeys; we preferred the first option, at the same time we looked closely at the handicrafts of local craftswomen.
I don’t really like ruins, but if they are located somewhere on a mountain, then we definitely go up there.
Because the views from the hill are so breathtaking!
If there is no haze, then you can see not only the city at the foot and the neighboring sandy beach with a bay, where you just want to cool off, but also endless expanses, including St. Peter’s Bay and the neighboring islands.
After a walk along the Acropolis (by the way, it is the second most important after Athens),
we went downstairs and had lunch in the old town in one of the view taverns, I don’t even remember what I liked more – the view and atmosphere of the restaurant or the fresh seafood in it :)
In this place there really are 7 springs, small streams that flow from underground and form a lake. Of interest to tourists, as well as to us, is another object in the neighborhood - a dark narrow tunnel, which actually leads to this very lake.
Every second tourist wants to tickle their nerves and walk through the tunnel. The fact is that the tunnel is completely dark, and you need to walk through it barefoot, finding yourself ankle-deep in cold water; using phones and flashlights is not recommended, so as not to disturb the atmosphere and the mysteries of the legend.
There are 2 beliefs associated with the tunnel, by walking through which you can choose to either become 10 years younger or get rid of 7 sins. We got through it too - I don’t know, maybe we were rejuvenated :)
Well, behind the tunnel, if you walk a little to the side along the nature trail, you can see a beautiful artificial waterfall.
Kallithea Springs (Kallithea Baths)
Once upon a time in ancient times there were healing springs here,
now it is just a pleasant natural complex with the former name Kallithea Springs,
where you can swim in crystal clear water, sunbathe on sun loungers and have a snack in a cafe.
In general, the nature in the area is simply amazing, especially the sea cliffs.
The ancient marble pavilions have been restored, so that in their shade and coolness you can hide from the hot sun.
Anthony Quinn Cove
This bay is named after a real person - the famous actor of the last century, writer and artist Anthony Quinn. The film “The Guns of the Island of Navarone” with his participation was filmed in the bay, but the Greeks themselves fell in love with Anthony Quinn for the film masterpiece “Zorba the Greek,” in which the actor performed a Greek dance, and the melody from which became a hit. By the way, the film “Zorba the Greek” won an Oscar.
At the end of filming, the actor rented a house in a picturesque bay, and then bought it to stay here for a long time. The government was very pleased with the presence of the star, or rather, the effect that his presence had - the bay began to attract tourists/fans of the actor like a magnet, so it was decided to give the bay the name of the actor.
I am sure that even if Anthony Quinn did not live in this bay, and it would have been called something else, tourists would still have chosen this place! Firstly, the bay itself, framed by fancy rocks, is like a natural place - very picturesque, the water changes its color from turquoise to sapphire during the day, and secondly, it’s not difficult to get here - public transport runs to the nearest resort towns, from which you can already walk to the bay.
Now Anthony Quinn Bay is one of the most beautiful and pleasant beaches on the island for relaxation - the clearest water, the bay is protected from waves and wind, there are sun loungers, umbrellas, showers and a cafe.
Ostrich farm
There is a place in Rhodes that is definitely worth a visit, especially if you are vacationing on the island with children - this is an ostrich farm
and a mini zoo next to it.
At the entrance you can buy bags of corn grains and feed the ostriches - this is the main entertainment. At the same time, only 2-3 of the calmest males are allocated for feeding, who eat from their hands carefully, while females are not allowed near tourists at all, because they often behave inappropriately)
On the farm, ostriches are housed in families - one male and 2-3 females live in a pen. Males are quite aggressive and if you place two adult males with a female, they will fight for their status to the last, until one of them dies. But in general, ostriches, it turns out, live quite a long time, about 60-70 years.
Ostriches are raised for meat and to hatch eggs. They lay eggs at the age of 2 to 35 years, and incubate each for about 40 days, and use young individuals for meat, up to 1 year.
One ostrich egg weighs about 2 kg, enough for about 10 omelettes. There is also a restaurant at the farm where you can try omelettes, steaks and ostrich meat cutlets. There is also a souvenir shop where you can buy all sorts of crafts made from shells, and also, on the farm you can see the world’s largest rosary, also made from eggs, of course, they are under glass)
Vineyards
Most of the vineyards of Rhodes are located around Mount Attaviros, at altitudes reaching 800 m. The white Athyri variety is grown in the mountains, and the red Mandidarya variety (Amoriano) is cultivated in the flat areas.
Both vineyards can be visited to taste/buy various wines as a gift, or simply to have lunch overlooking the endless grape fields.
In summer, the grapes are still unripe, so we weren’t able to eat fresh fruits from the bush :)
If you see some kind of local production, be it a soap factory, a honey farm or a ceramic workshop, don’t be shy, you can stop by, look and ask the craftsmen everywhere.
The Greeks are friendly enough, they will bite you)) 
As a rule, all workshops and farms have their own shop where you can buy products from their craft. 
Prasonissi
There is another attraction of Rhodes on the island, which we, alas, did not get to, is called “the kiss of two seas.” Yes, that’s right, because when you come here, you can swim in two seas at once - the Aegean and Mediterranean.
This place is located on the southernmost cape of Rhodes, and a huge sand spit separates the seas. The place was chosen by kiters and surfers. I really love places like this!
So, for us, this is at least one significant reason to return to the island of Rhodes someday.
Finally
Excellent beaches, developed infrastructure, an extensive excursion program, the most picturesque places on the island - all this makes Rhodes one of the most popular tourist destinations in Greece.
You can travel around Rhodes either by public transport or by rented car or motorbike, the choice is yours.
The latest options will undoubtedly make your vacation more varied and mobile. We saw all the places described in the article while traveling by car; the roads and traffic on the island are normal. Along the way, we discovered and visited several interesting places that we had not originally planned to visit :)
Rent a car in Rhodes
We looked for a rental car in several places: firstly, we asked on the spot (since we didn’t need a car on the first day of arrival, we didn’t book in advance, although we usually do just that), but either there was nothing available, or the prices were higher, or insurance conditions were worse.
We have also made a selection of good hotels in different price categories near excellent beaches.
A selection of hotels in Rhodes
| Budget | Good | Luxurious |
|---|---|---|
|
|
|
- Sentido Port Royal
- Kolymbia Sun
View all hotel options in Rhodes
You can rent accommodation in Rhodes from locals using the Airbnb website .
A lot of useful information about Greece - where to go, what to do, what to see, etc. can be found on the website Greek National Tourism Organization.
Cheap flights to Rhodes
Have you been to Greece or specifically Rhodes? Did you like the island? If you managed to visit Rhodes where we haven’t been, write in the comments, thanks to you, the list of Rhodes attractions will be even more complete!